cleverchimp

Yes there is a difference. I like to make it clear, even without a tint...if you roll the windows up and down, you will feel the difference (confirmed this with BTU meter) but with a windows tint you supposed to feel greater difference. I do not feel that much difference albeit there is a different with the tint, but I still feel uncomfortable and my HVAC system just might work a little bit better then before. I would expect more from a high end tint. Looks like the best and easiest test would be the butter test. You see it on youtube (I believe they are official HO channels), they put butter inside the car for 20min. I will do that on my 3 cars and compare the result.

I wast even thinking that way. I was trying to see why after going with high end tint my AC still working hard and why I still feels the hotness of the sun on my face like before the tint? There is improvement but not as much I would I expected. In my test HO40 performed almost identical with factory tinted privacy glass at 20% and compared to non tinted glass, it’s 10F cooler compared to car without tint....the dealer should tell me also that the ceramic tinted glass will be convecting heat, which will contribute to ambient temperature.

Yeah, probably will do it with 80 too. Wondering why LLumar dont offer 70, I would spend if it have value proposition to it but so far I have been dissatisfied with the value proposition for HO C40. There is absolutely no need to spend premium while you can get comparable performance with cheaper options.

Maybe doing the windshield will make a difference, what do you have on yours? I was thinking air blue 80 due to the cost, the dealer wanted me to try C50, but I might get trouble with the cop. The C70 appears to have issues, I have another guy test LLumar CTX (different shades then mine) on his Prius Prime and below is his results : Day 1: outside temp: 91 FInterior temp: 114 F (measured on the front cloth seat)Day 2: (used sun shade for windshield as the only difference)Outside Temp: 93 FInterior temp: 111 FDay 3: (used sunshade with front windows cracked)Outside temp: 88 FInterior temp: 98 FFront windshield is tinted with the CTX at 80%.Front windows are 50% CTXRear windows and hatch are 15% CTX. His installer recommend LLumar over HO.

Yes you are right about Prius glasses being clear. Sorry, I thought I make myself clear at first. I was testing this on 3 different cars, one without any tint, one with HO and the other is with factory tinted glass. All park in a row, getting the same sun exposure.

My thought as well, my dealer stated it designed to absorb rather then to reflect it. The residential windows tint is mainly reflecting the sun energy. I think ceramic tint is overrated, I feel the windows like an oven windows in much less energy but you get my point...it radiate heat, thats probably why many with crystalline feels cooler. It doesnt matter the wider HO wavelength rejects as those heats energy accumulating and convecting on the windows itself. The more I think ceramic technology on windows film is probably not suitable for people who drives cars in stop and go traffic most of the time (due to the wind effect cooling the glass). I understand that its not magic, I thought after spending $500 I would see some noticeable effect on my HVAC system...but I’m seeing only a slight improvement with the maybe second best film manufacturer and due to ceramic technology, I feel the heat from the windows convecting instead. I do feel the benefit of helping with glares though, but if I can redo it...I wont go with HO ceramic. My only feasible solution now to get the front windshield tinted (testing the theory all windows need to be tinted)...even that there are peoples out there that says crystalline or as a matter fact any other 70 tints dont help, if it does help...it helps a bit. As far as the UV protection, its something that invisible. We know that if it indeed blocks UV, it will beneficial to our skin but again...no way to tell unless with a expensive tools that an average joes dont have. There is no regulation or what so ever in this aftermarket industry, which makes a perfect spot for many who like to sell snake oils.

I hope there are a standardized test that an average joe can do at home to measure the performance of a windows film else a naughty installer could install CTX and charges HO prices and customer wont even know the differences. HO have butter challenge youtube video that is do-able, I might do that later on. Do you have your windshield tinted too? I wonder if you can do the same test with the handheld thermo. I learn also what is considered “Good install”, there are some dust and possibly a lint/hair on some area and my installers think that is normal on an install...wont replace it because of that. Its not noticeable from few feet away, just up close. I agree with you, everyone have their own opinions about the price. My point of view is that just dont see how a pieces of plastic with glues cost hundreds..even with a rare earth material. The manufacture profit will be at least 200% mark up...dealer mark it up again at least 100%. Even that, on $500...seems like paying $300 for the labor and $200 for the material.

I wonder the same too but unwilling to shell another $250 for C50 installed on the windshield. I was amazed on how expensive a windows tinting can be these days. I paid $500 for 5 windows and half of that for a single windshield? The math just doesnt add up. The back window is large too. Another consideration is that if a rock hit the windshield, and safelite need to repair it...I would imagine it would destroy the tint. I’m not willing to re-tint it for another $250 if that happen. I’m considering lower priced options now and looking the lowest prices on Crystalline 70, Xpel Prime XR Plus 70 or Stratos. I got quotes for Airblue 80 on lower $100 but not sure how bluish is it and why go with 80 if you can get same clarity with 70? Another thing I learn is HO or their dealer doesn’t warrant the performance of the film. If you dont like it, you are at loss!

This is my first car tint, I thought I will get the WOW feeling after that but I guess not. The thing I do notice is the glare reductions from the headlight of higher vehicle on my tail, it doesnt blind me anymore also between the defroster line on the back there will be light distortions of some kind. After reading hours of informations here, I thought tint will help A LOT on the HVAC system...but the fact is that it will somewhat help. I might get 15F cooler with DREI but if I know all this beforehand I would probably stick with LLUMAR CTX for half the price. Not sure want to spend $$$ for DREI, even it have gold in it....I think it’s overpriced.

Thanks for the insight Tom, I’m fully aware of that and I agree with you about ceramic film. Thermostat indeed show its hotter, I was more into trying to understand the hype of Huper Optik film and ceramic film in general, spending $500 for a 10F temp reduction might not that wise, I might settle for 8F temp reduction for half of that with LLumar. Maybe that’s probably why 3M dont go with ceramic for their Crystalline series? The dealer mentioned that my problem is on the windshield (I know that this will contribute to the ambient temperature) and quote me another $250 for C50...but the heat I feel is coming from the treated windows and I want to figure this out first. I can feel comfortable with 80F weather and 2 bar of AC at the coldest setting, but if its 90F to 100F outside the AC will need to be blasted to max level, not much different before I get the film treated...what gives?

I tinted my car (Prius Prime) with Huper C40 all around besides the windshield and felt it wasn’t performed as expected. What is the right expectation for this tint? I did a quick test using a handheld thermo and these are the results between C40, No Tint and Factory tinted privacy glass : (C40) - Surface : Around 128F, Inside : Around 124F (NO FILM) - Surface : 120F, Inside : Around 132F (FACTORY PIVACY GLASS) - Surface : Around 127F, Inside : Around 126F In conclusion that it help reducing the temperature around 10F and seems to perform equally with factory tinted glass at maybe 20%. Measuring with a solar meter, 360BTU outside, after the film is 62. I also feel the heat from the side when driving the car, is this expected for a $500 tint?